How would you define biology and
relate it with its major divisions?
Answers
Biology
Biology is the study of living things. The word biology is the combination of two Greek words. 'Bios' mean life and logos mean reasoning, discourse, study or knowledge. Biology is subdivided into two branches, Botany and Zoology. Botany is the study of plants and Zoology is the study of animals.
Major divisions of Biology
Biology has been divided into following major divisions: -
1. Anatomy
Anatomy deals with the study of internal organs as seen with the naked eye, i.e. without the help of a microscope.
2. Morphology
It is the branch of Biology that deals with the form and structure of organisms.
3. Histology
Histology is the study of tissues of plants and animals with the help of a microscope.
4. Physiology
Physiology deals with the study of functions of different parts of living organisms. Some plant functions are photosynthesis, respiration, growth, absorption of water, storage of food etc.
5. Ecology
Ecology is the study of relationships between organisms and their environment (surroundings).
6. Cell Biology
Cell biology deals with the study of the structure and functions of cell, and their organelles.
7. Paleontology
Paleontology deals with the study of fossils and their relationships to the evolution of life upon earth.
8. Paleobotany
It is the study of plant fossils.
9. Paleozoology
It is the study of animal fossils. Fossils are the remains or impressions of ancient living organisms preserved in rocks.
10. Genetics
Genetics is the study of hereditary characters transmitted from parents to offspring. Parents transmit characters to their offspring through DNA (chromosomes). These characters are called hereditary characters.
11. Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the study of naming and classification of organisms. Classification is the arrangement of plants and animals into different groups.
12. Embryology
It is the study of the development of an organism from a fertilized egg or zygote.
13. Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which includes virus, bacteria, protozoa, microscopic algae, and fungi.
14. Molecular Biology
It is the branch of biology, which deals with the study of the structure and function of molecules that help in biological processes of living organisms, the structure of cells and organelles such as Nucleic acid, and a protein molecule at the molecular level, the molecular basis of inheritance protein and protein synthesis.
15. Biotechnology
It deals with the study of uses of biological processes for the benefit of humans.
16. Evolution
It deals with the study of changes in living things with the passage of time.
17. Economic Biology
It deals with the study of organisms, which are important to the economic point of view.
18. Environmental Biology
It deals with the study of organisms in relation to the environment, and the effects of environment on the organism's body.
19. Marine Biology
The branch of biology that deals with the study of life in the oceans and seas and the physical and chemical characteristic of their environment is called marine biology.
20. Biotechnology
It deals with the study of the use of data and techniques of engineering, biochemistry, biophysics, cellular biology, and technology for the study and solution of problems related to living organisms especially for the welfare of human beings.
21. Fresh-water Biology
It deals with the study of life dwelling in the fresh water, lakes, rivers, stream, ponds, and the physical and chemical characteristics of affecting their lives.
22. Parasitology
Parasitology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of parasitic living organisms such as mode of transmission, incubation, an interaction with their host's life cycle and host-parasite relationship.
23. Social Biology
Social biology deals with the study of social interaction of certain animal within a population of a given animal species, especially human beings. It is also concerned about different types of behavior, which are either inherited from their parents or developed in their body due to certain reasons.
24. Human Biology
It deals with the study of man. It includes all aspects of human life such as structure, function, anatomy, histology, evolution, morphology, genetics, inheritance, health, cell biology, and ecological studies etc. of human beings.